Lock having key ejecting mechanism



April 24, 1%? R- L BRQWN 9 9 LOCK HAVING KEY EJECTING MECHANISM FiledJan. 3, 1950 Fig. i,

R L Bm wn INVENTOR.

- Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK HAVING KEYEJECTING MECHANISM R L Brown,xCorsicana, Tex., assignor of one-half toJ. N. Garitty, Corsicana, Tex.

Application January 3, 1950, Serial No. 136,506

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in keys ofthe cylinder type whereby the key will automatically be ejected from thelook after the key has been turned to return the lock to its lockedposition.

An important object of the invention is to provide a lock of thischaracter whereby the keywill be ejected from the lock and isdesignedprimarily for use with ignition keys and locks for automobiles to avoidthe danger of the theft of the car by leaving the key in the look.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ignition key andlock embodying an ejecting rod at the back edge of the key whichcompresses a spring mounted in the lock barrel to eject the keytherefrom should the key accidentally be left in the lock.

A still further object is to provide a key ejecting mechanism in whichthe spring ejecting means is enclosed in the lock barrel to avoid injurythereto by frequent handling of the key.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character simpleand practical in construction, which is efficient .and reliable inoperation,

' relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted forthe purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

' Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock showing the keyin position therein.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the type of lock hereinillustrated embodies a fixed cylindrical body l and a rotatable barrelll therein formed with a keyway l2 and wherein the body and barrel areprovided with a series of relatively arranged spring pressed plungers,l3 which normally look the barrel to the body, but which are moved intounlocking relation by the action against the free end of the plungers bythe tumbler engaging front edge of a key 1 4 when the key is forciblyinserted in the keyway.

The back edge of the key I 4 is formed with a rod or pin [5 positionedin spaced parallel relation to the back edge of the key and is receivedin a bore 16 of the barrel l l for compressing a coil spring 11 againsta screw is threaded in the rear end of the bore. A washer I9 is suitablyI secured to the front end of the spring to prevent mutilation of thespring by the compres i 34?"- tion of the rod or pin I 5.

In the operation of the device as the key It is inserted in the barrel lI the rod or pin I5 is also inserted in the bore l6 of the barrel tocompress the spring ll. When the key is turned to its on position thekey is retained in the lock barrel in the usual manner and when the keyis turned'to its off position the key is free to slide in and out of thekeyway l2 and should the key accidentally'be left in the lock the springI1 will then eject the key so that the key will not remain in the lock.1

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A cylinder-type lock having a rotatable plug, said plug having a keyshank passage and a bore parallel to the key shank passage, and a coilspring in the bore for ejecting a key having a shank and a pin parallelto said shank when inserted in the key shank passage and borerespectively.

2. A-clyinder-type lock having a rotatable plug, said plug having a keyshank passage and a bore parallel to the key shank passage, yieldablemeans in the bore for ejecting a key having a shank and a pin parallelto said shank when inserted in the key shank passage andborerespectively.

R L BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the2,271,043. Spiro Jan. 27. 1942

